THE SHAMAN'S HEART II is an entrancing 70-minute shamanic journey of uninterrupted, evolving tribal-trance drumming and percussion that continuously builds in rhythmic complexity and dynamic intensity. Byron is joined by Steve Roach who provides the harmonic and textural psychotropic stew created from a rich, organic and analog blend. The alchemy with the percussion results in an ecstasy that helps hold the space for the listener to journey far and deep into powerful and sustained shamanic states of consciousness. The journey culminates in a bursting forth through the full spectrum portal of pure existence -- returning safely home to the heart-centered presence and potential of the true self.

The continuous heartbeat rhythm, medicine rattles, heart and soul activating trance drumming combines with Steve's sonic mastery and deep didgeridoo to firmly anchor the entire journey to the listener's own sonically-driven trajectory. Repeated use of this music in a personal ritual or ceremonial context will enhance the heart's capacities for love, compassion, courage, power, and strength.

With focused and clear intention, this sonic call to adventure draws on the traditional shamanic model that is proven over the eons to open the primal mind to access all levels of human experience including the upper, middle, and lower worlds of the shamanic landscape and various transpersonal realms of reality. THE SHAMAN'S HEART II is a powerful and potent shamanic journey that invites the listener to make full contact with their heart -- their own inner wisdom and various non-physical helpers, guides and allies, to reveal, release, heal and transform the habitual patterns and blocks that inhibit and stifle their growth and creative energies.

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In THE SHAMAN'S HEART, virtuoso percussionist Byron Metcalf takes us on a potent journey into the archetypal depths of shamanic awakening. Blending poly-rhythmic percussion and the hot spark of shaman's rattles with rainsticks, didgeridoos, the sound of wind, the grokking of ravens, and supported by the sonic wizardry of Steve Roach, THE SHAMAN'S HEART will carry the listener into that place of ancestral memory where the Ancient Ones beckon us to remember the crackling fires, deep forests, and ceremonial caverns where the shaman's heart was originally born. Whatever our cultural or ancestral background we all have ancestors who were shamans and shamanic practitioners. In THE SHAMAN'S HEART we are reminded of this powerful spirit in each of us; a spirit that is needed on the planet, now more than ever. -- Frank MacEowen

"Byron so eloquently and masterfully brings rhythm and sound together in a way that speaks to the inner recesses of the soul. Each unique selection has a character of it own." -- Annie Compton-Schmidt, DJ, Earthbeat!, KFCF 88.1 FM, Fresno, California.

"I have used Byron Metcalf's music in shamanic divination journey work of various kinds, and have found it to be extremely valuable in taking one to the deep, at times frightening inner spaces that one often encounters in self-exploration. The deep resonant bass pulse and driving rhythms keep one moving through the changes, and provide a safe container for this kind of work." -- Ralph Metzner, Ph.D., author of The Unfolding Self.

"It blends an archetypal 'resonance' with the 'haunting' shamanic flair that Byron is so good at... and with just the right vibration." -- Bill Green, Senior Staff & Music Coordinator, Eupsychia Institute